Pallaibo Walk

This wonderful walk explores the lower half of Sawpit Creek. Starting from high up on Kosciuszko Road at the Sawpit Creek Picnic Area, you will follow the well signposted track as it follows Sawpit Creek through the valley. You will explore various forest types as you make you way down to the Thredbo River. The walk finish with a stroll along the Thredbo River to find the well established Thredbo River Picnic Area. Plan ahead to organise a lift from the end of this walk or allow extra time to walk back up.

Snow & Ice on walk

This walk leads through an alpine environment and all walkers must be well prepared. During summer, be prepared for both hot and cold weather, high winds, rain, extreme UV levels and some sections of snow or ice on the ground. Before starting this walk, check advice with Snowy Region Visitor Information Centre (02) 6450 5600, the weather forecast and the snow conditions then change your plans as needed. These notes, grades and walking times have been written for use in the summer months only. Between May and the end of October, there is a much higher change of snow, ice and extremely cold conditions.

Kosciuszko Mountain Retreat

The ‘Kosciuszko Mountain Retreat’ is a caravan park about 1km further into Kosciuszko NP from the paystation on Kosciuszko Rd. The retreat provides cabins and chalets as well as powered and un-powered camping sites. The retreat has a public phone[1], a small kiosk[2], drying room[3], laundry and kids playground. Dave and Gina welcome guests all year round, with many guest skiing in winter and walking in the warmer months. More info.

Sawpit Creek Picnic Area

Sawpit Creek Picnic Area is found beside Kosciuszko Rd, and is accessed through the ‘Kosciuszko Mountain Retreat’ driveway[4]. The picnic area is about 1km further into the park from the NPWS pay station. A great starting point for several popular walks, this is also a pleasent spot to just stop and rest. Sawpit Creek[5] runs along the side of the open area and there are also several picnic tables[6], wood BBQs[7] and a non-flush toilet[8]. There are information signs about the area, explaining that the creek is named for the Alpine Ash that were milled in the area during the 1860s [9].

(0km) Sawpit Creek Picnic Area → Sawpit intersection

50 m

1 mins

0m

-2m

Very easy

From the large ‘Sawpit Creek Picnic Area’ information signs[10], this walk follows the paved footpath[11] away from the road and across Sawpit Creek[12] using the metal bridge[13]. On the other side of the bridge, the walk comes to T-intersection[14] marked with a ‘Pallaibo track’ sign[15].

Kosciuszko Education Centre

The Kosciuszko Education Centre is a facility at Sawpit Creek that helps students from primary school through to university learn about the natural and cultural heritage within the national park. The building has a display with some information for visitors[16], but it is not designed to be a general visitor information centre. You can call the Kosciuszko Education Centre on 6451 3700. More info.

(0.05km) Kosciuszko Education Centre → Sawpit intersection

310 m

6 mins

0m

-11m

Very easy

Turn sharp left: From the front of the large stone ‘Kosciuszko Education Centre’[17], this walk heads across the car park towards the timber building[18] (keeping Kosciuszko Rd, some distance to your right). The walk then veers left just before the timber building to find the large metal ‘Kosciuszko Education Centre’ sign[19] with arrows pointing to various walks. This walk follows these arrows along the paved footpath[20] and after about 100m, the path doglegs past a couple of bench seats[21]. The walk continues down this path for another 150m to a T-intersection[22] marked with a ‘Pallaibo track’ information sign[23] (and a bridge on your right[24]). Now Turn left to join the main walk.

(0.05km) Sawpit intersection → Powerline Clearing

490 m

9 mins

5m

-16m

Moderate track

Veer right: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Pallaibo Track’ and ‘Sawpit Track’ signs[25] along the dirt track, directly away from the bridge. The track leads along the side of the valley[26] and after about 260m, crosses a short metal grate[27] and then, about 150m later, leads down through the granite boulders[28]. Next, the track leads down some timber steps[29] to cross Sawpit Creek on a flat timber bridge[30]. On the other side of the bridge, the track bends left and heads over a small rise, soon coming to a clearing underneath a set of power lines[31] (and fenced water treatment area up to your right).

(0.54km) Powerline Clearing → Sawpit Valley View

440 m

9 mins

6m

-28m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk crosses under the power lines and follows the clear narrow track[32] along the side of the hill, whilst initially keeping the fenced water treatment area up to your right. The walk winds gently through the forest, passing a couple of timber posts[33] with walking track symbols, heads over a rise then down to cross a small gully with a metal grate[34], about 200m from passing under the power lines. The track continues gently downhill and after about 160m, it bends sharply right[35] to follow the steep side of Sawpit Creek valley[36]. The walk soon comes to a signposted three-way intersection[37] (with an unfenced valley view on your left[38]) and a few ‘Pallaibo Track’ signs[39].

Sawpit Valley View

At the intersection about halfway around Sawpit Track (where it joins Pallaibo Track) is an unfenced view[40] into the Sawpit Creek valley. From the rocky edge, walkers can look up and down the valley[41]. Looking down the valley, there is a view of Bald Mountain (1300m) and a glimpse over the Thredbo River into the adjoining farmland.

(0.99km) Sawpit Valley View → Sawpit Falls view

1.2 km

29 mins

26m

-101m

Hard track

Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the ‘Pallaibo Track to Thredbo River 4 KM’ sign[42] downhill, keeping the main valley to your left. The track leads fairly steeply down for about 130m, passing through several switchbacks[43][44]. The track then essentially flattens out[45] and leads along the valley for a few hundred metres to find a metal bridge[46]. The walk crosses the bridge over Sawpit Creek[47], then turns right, heading over a gentle rise[48]. The walk continues gently down though the open eucalypt forest[49] and, about 800m from the bridge, this walk comes to an unfenced view point[50] looking down to a waterfall[51] on Sawpit Creek (this is just before the track heads down some stone steps[52]).

Sawpit Falls view

Sawpit Falls view is found on the rocky edge of a steep cliff of Pallaibo Track. The unfenced view looks between two trees[53], peering down into the Sawpit Creek Valley to a large waterfall cascading down the wide rockface. The waterfall is some distance[54] away and the view is filtered through the trees, but it is still worth stopping to enjoy.

(2.14km) Sawpit Falls view → Lower Sawpit Creek Bridge

1.8 km

47 mins

26m

-184m

Hard track

Veer left: From the view point[55], this walk follows the stone steps[56] downhill, keeping the main valley to your right. After about 150m of leading down the side of the gully, the track leads through a right-hand switchback[57] then soon crosses Sawpit Creek on a metal bridge[58]. Here the track heads left, leading about 200m further down along the valley floor before heading down some timber steps[59]. A further 400m along the track, the walk comes to a ‘3K’ timber milestone post[60]. The track starts to lead a little more steeply downhill for the next 500m, as it passes through a granite outcrop[61] and down a series of steps, and then bends around a left-hand switchback[62]. The track starts to get steeper and winds down the hill through some sharp bends for about 250m before passing another right-hand switchback[63]. Still fairly steep for another hundred metres or so, the track then essentially flattens out to come to a large grassy clearing[64]. Across the Thredbo River is a view to the Gaden Trout Hatchery is a NSW Government facility for breeding Atlantic salmon, brook, brown and rainbow trout for recreational fishing. Here, the fainter track leads down the clearing, tending left and leading back into the trees[66] to a flat metal footbridge over Sawpit Creek[67].

(3.97km) Lower Sawpit Creek Bridge → Thredbo River Picnic Area

1.5 km

32 mins

51m

-66m

Moderate track

Continue straight: From here, the walk crosses Sawpit Creek on the flat metal bridge[68] and follows the track up the steps to cross a grassy clearing. The walk climbs over a rise then down the other side to pass a ‘5K’ timber milestone[69], about 1km from the bridge. The walk continues down the hill and steps, and soon follows the bank of the Thredbo River[70]. Keeping the river a short distance to your right, this track leads past a few rock falls[71] before coming to edge of the Thredbo River Picnic Area[72]. Here the walk heads up towards the toilet block[73] and follows the footpath[74] down past the stone picnic shelter[75] (and information signs) to the car park. The picnic area is where Kosciuszko Rd crosses the Thredbo River.

Thredbo River Picnic Area

The Thredbo River Picnic Area, as the name suggests, sits on the northern bank of the Thredbo River[76]. The picnic area is just within the bounds of Kosciuszko National Park and is signposted on Kosciuszko Rd[77]. There are well covered (and uncovered) BBQs[78] and picnic tables[79], as well as a toilet block[80][81] and open grassy area[82]. There is a large car park[83] and paved path[84] linking the main facilities. Sitting at the lower end of Pallaibo Track[85], this is a popular spot for people walking, fishing and enjoying this gateway to the national park.

Maps for the Pallaibo Walk walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Cross sectional view of the Pallaibo Walk bushwalking track

Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Pallaibo Walk

Overview of this walks grade – based on the AS 2156.1 – 2001

Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.

Length

5.5 km

Time

2 hrs 30 mins

.

Grade 4/6

Hard track

AS 2156.1

Gradient

Very steep (4/6)

Quality of track

Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6)

Signs

Directional signs along the way (3/6)

Experience Required

Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6)

Weather

Storms may impact on navigation and safety (3/6)

Infrastructure

Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6)

Some more details of this walks Grading

Here is a bit more details explaining grading looking at sections of the walk

Gradient

3km of this walk is very steep and another 1.5km has short steep hills. Whilst another 940m has gentle hills with occasional steps and the remaining 50m is flat with no steps.

Quality of track

Around 5km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles, whilst the remaining 50m follows a smooth and hardened path.

Signs

Around 4.9km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 540m is clearly signposted.

Experience Required

Around 4.5km of this walk requires some bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 990m requires no previous bushwalking experience.

weather

Around 4.9km of this walk is affected by storms that may impact your navigation and safety, whilst the remaining 540m is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).

Infrastructure

Around 3.4km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 2km is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).

Similar walks

A list of walks that share part of the track with the Pallaibo Walk walk.

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-kosciunp-ptb
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.